Thetownend.com

We'll lose.

No we won't. We'll win because I'm going out on the piss tonight. We always win when I miss it.

Win today.

Think we'll get a draw.  I'd certainly take that.  Anything to stem the bleeding.

we need a reaction and a performance
it'll be a game of two halfs
sloppy concentration will cost us
we're a young team and need some older heads.
the players will need to learn

or something

2-0 Vale

Can't call it, but would give my left nut* for 3 points


*NB words or phrases used in this post may be metaphorical, I'm not doing a Bogus Dave here

It'll be typical Swindon if we deliver a stylishly scrappy victory at Vale Park and return to struggling at the CG.

The home form, which has been crap for ages now is a concern. Today we need to show more resilience and heart after basically just giving up against Carlisle after they scored.

If we can come away from Vale with at least a point and signs on the pitch that show improvement then happy days.

I’ll go 1-1.

Pre match chocks away in The Reginald Mitchell.
The designer of the Spitfire passed away before the advent of the jet engine.
Not sure if he liked his football or would have appreciated a gas turbine propelled performance over a Woodbine inspired one.

Anyway, good test of what Wellens is made of today.
Kind of hoping that he'll stick to his principles.
A narrow hard fought defeat would be ok.
Anything more than that, a massive bonus.

To be honest I'd take that right now.

We need away results to keep us afloat until we work out how to win at home.

A win today would give us four wins and defeats away.  I can't think of a team that has ever been relegated (barring points deduction etc.) with a breakeven away record.

Not sure stylish and scrappy fall into the same sentence describing a Swindon game but I take your point and as others have said bite your hand off.

Port Vale have a pretty average home record but still see them winning 2-0 unfortunately.

 I'm normally an optimist, despite following Swindon for years,but I don't think Wellens is the man for the job.
Watching him interviewed,he seems out of his depth,big talk but his eyes tell a different story.

I think we will lose today and continue our slide down the table

  I think Wellens gets this one as a free hit....a chance to show if anything has been learned from last week.

 By learned anything, I mean evidence that he realises we're in a relegation battle and adjusts tactics accordingly... as you can be sure Vale will.

  Realistically we're most likely to only drop a further place today... unless a hammering.  We could do with Morecambe winning mind, to keep Notts down.  Numb at home to Newport which won't be easy for them.

At least there is no shortage of cups & saucers here if Wellens fancies throwing some crockery around in the dressing room.

 :)

What's the weather like WB... it's proper slate grey miserable in Swindon.  Just the stuff for a game v the Burslem Boys.

 

We have a pretty good record against this lot in recent years some great wins against Port Fail a 6-0. 5-0 and 5-2 win at home.

In the last 13 games between us we have only been beaten by them twice and both by a single goal.

Away in the last 12 games since the turn of the century we have had 5 wins 3 draws and 4 defeats, each defeat was by a single goal.

Today will show a lot of character from Wellens and the team if we wish to avoid defeat after they were booed off last week by many.

Its still too eary for Wellens to put much of a stamp on tactics I think so as reg says its a free hit for him today. If we do manage to score then who knows but if we concede early then I fear the worst with heads dropping.

Port Vales last 5 games has been a run of WDWDL.

On their forum they are super confident with a couple of their fans commenting on how they hate us after the Swindon v Hartlepool draw on the last day of the season in 2004 when a draw meant us and Hartlepool got into the play offs at the expense of PV. Yes I had no memory of that either but they certainly do!

2-1 defeat with Anderson scoring and 425 disappointed Town fans in a crowd of 4,274.

Unusually for here the sun is shining.
A far cry from the train pulling out of Stafford and finding out that the game has been called off which is what normally happens.

Anyway, avoiding defeat today is at least assured.
Just discovered Wobbly Bob on draught here.  :)
What could possibly go wrong.

Sunshine on Burslem..... the Wembley of the North at its finest.

Positive after hearing Wellens pre-match. Expecting a score draw today but no matter what, we've got to give him time.

is it 1950? because since then its has crumbled down more and more the more often I visited.

My last visit there was in 2007 and it was a state then, hopefully they have repaired it a bit better now.

Did you look into his eyes though

Ridiculously I chose to listen to what he said instead.

Port Vale nearly got relegated last season.
Will be a stern test to see whether we’re relegation fodder.
Anything less than a 5 goal defeat and maybe we’ll only go down by a few points. Maybe even point.
On one hand Reg will be happy but also disappointed we aren’t worse.

May have missed this if it’s been posted already but I was told that Wellens punched the dressing room wall in frustration before his post match interview last week.

Surely something must have been learnt  from last week's hiding,   start of the turnaround today 1-1.
If nothing has been learnt then 0-6 and the conference beckons.   But this is Swindon,  we can do the impossible !. COYR COYR

Can you be a little more precise please.

It will be windy, Wellens will make another hole in the dressing room wall, Hunt will throw a tea cup which Vigs will decide to punch and miss it as it hits him in the face...any more?

Who fucking cares?

I have no doubt things were learnt.
The real issue is whether they can / have been sorted.

Definately this.

I would select the following team
Vigs
Knowle Wolf Nelson Taylor
Mcgleshan Alzate Smith Doughty Twine
Richards

Any W D L predictions for today reg?

I'm going for a 2-1 win. can't underestimate what the return of doughty can bring to the team. Richards will actually break his baren scoring run today as well!

Time for 3 points on the road and to prove to people that we aren't in a relegation battle. coyr

If Richards does indeed play today he can't possibly be much worse than Bayo last week who was awful all game, I hoped he would make it as a striker but I think he definately looks better coming inside on the left wing and running at defenders.

We badly need a striker.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dsxcp1VXcAAUJJR.jpg:large)

What fucking formation is that going to be?

That looks like a 442 to me.

          Vigs
Knoyle Woolf Nelson Taylor
Anderson Alzate McCourt Iandolo
       Twine   Richards

Vigs
Knoyle Woolf Nelson Iandolo
McCourt Taylor
Anderson Twine? Alzate?
Richards?

4231?

3 up front?
2 up Anderson floating?

yeah could be.

Landolo?  Didnt do enought for me last week to warrant a starting place.

Its flexible definately.

Anderson likes to play the free role and go wherever he wants, or thats how it seems at the moment.

McCourt doesn't offer the defence enough cover for me, we looks weak defensively.

So could well be -

          Vigs
Knoyle Woolf Nelson Taylor
           McCourt
   Alzate           Iandolo
       Twine   Anderson
          Richards

He was very poor last week not sure we any other option if we do play with 2 down the left side, I think McGlashan would be better suited there, last wek for the first 40 mins he looked handy but then faded as many did.

Looks like Welllens thinks this is the best XI for how he wants to play.... let's see. Conventional wisdom is that in a relegation battle you look at what you've got and choose a system that fits around the players, keeping it simple.

This looks a bit complex for my tastes.... you'd imagine that Vale will be more simple in approach.

Twine deserves his chance. Wouldn’t have chosen McCourt myself but at least he has a throw on him for our big strikers - oh, hang on . . .

3-7-0 probably wouldn't work though reg

I was thinking more like 7-2-1

So, enlighten us. What format does Wellens want to play that you think is too complex.

So who else is there without Dunne and Dave that should be in there then

Also Bayo not exactly playing like a striker, no matter how tall he is.

It didn't against Carlisle :)

So what formation do you think it is?
How do you think we will do today?

Reg can't say as there are far too many variables ;)

(https://media1.tenor.com/images/3c9a3878ae1c3b4e02a42646b64ff9a5/tenor.gif?itemid=9814297)

...like a bee,stinging like a butterfly?

:) :) about right

If he's picked Taylor in midfield again, I'll be worried about Wellens' ability!

Having said that he'll probably have his best game in a Town shirt.  Can't see it though, he has never had a good game for us in central midfield.

they are speculating on the radio he's playing holding mid again..

It doesn't suit him now. Last week I thought he was adequate for the first half but 2nd half he was awful.

What bothers me more is Iandolo as left back as we can't be playing 3 at the back as we have only picked 2 CB's so he wont be left wingback..

Really not feeling tht midfield. Surely just switch Ian out for Taylor and slot Doughty into the holding role in MF.

Glad Knoyle is back in. I'd also start with McCormick in goal - way more confident and commanding than Vigs.

Definately, I agree with all of that.

Bayo in for Richards.

Young on the bench now, Richards injured in warm up...again.

hmmmm

I wanted to see how Richards would do today after playing poorly so far this season, I hope we play it to Bayos feet and not for him to head on today, for a man so tall he can't head a ball!

We have definately set up with Taylor in ventre midfield and Iandolo at LB.

In fairness, it's cold out there.

 :)

End to end so far, Bayo, Anderson and Knoyle linking up well, Penatly shout for Vale but it wasnt anywhere near.

A man of his age and all that!

Twine cleverly won a free kick on the wing, Taylors free kick was poor and over everyones head.

Bayo already wins one more header than in 90 mins last week.

Town trying to play a passing game so far.

Twine playing between left wing and striker, tracking back down the left trying to give Iandolo some cover, Iandolo caught out of position once already.

Anderson playing more wide right but in a free role, McCourt playing a more advanced role than Taylor so far.

1-0 Bayo!

yeeéeeeeeeees!

Anderson good pass into Alzate who can't find Anderson with the return, the ball goes wide to Iandolo who crosses to Anderson and its saved by the keeper and Bayo at the far post pokes it into an empty net from 7 yards.

Shit the bed   :)

Shit, 1-0 up

We might just stay up :(

 :beers:

Crazzzzzzyyyyy!!!!! 0 - 1

Richards not up for the battle or genuine?  :hmmm:

Come on Town you fuckers.

When was the last time we went in front?

Vale fans already getting on their players backs.

Bayo looks up for it today. Twine looking handy but has been pushed off the ball a couple of times already.

Vale shaky at the back.

Yeovil?

Good cross from deep by McCourt on the right but Bayo can't quite win it in the box.

Alzate beaten for pace by Vale in a rare attack but is easily beaten off the ball.

Good ball from McCourt to Twine just outside the box, he shoots but its deflected for a Town corner.

Taylor with an awful corner, comes back to him and he belts it against the defender and we go from attack to defence just as fast.

McCourt 35 yards out he tries a shot but its blocked.

Taylor professional foul after he is beaten, gets away with it as its in their half.

Pope very frustrated with his own players!

Iandolo long cross to Anderson who heads at the keeper.

Vale free kick 20 yards out, McCourt yellow card, central, good cance for Vale.

Shot, easily saved by Vigs.

Great move by Town with Anderson, McCourt and Alzate involved, Alzate falls over in the box.

The ball comes back at us and Vale have a great chance and the shot is blocked by Woolf in the box.

Vale so far not offering a lot today, Swindon playing a decent passing game and winning most balls in midfield.

fairly decent start.

vale going long quick or going down or right trying to use pace. not really bothered us

Great tackle by Anderson robbing the defender bringing the ball out, he runs into the box and shoots well wide.

Great interception by Bayo sets up McCourt who finds Alzate who then loses it just outside of the box.

He's failed to hit the target under little or no pressure a lot this season, see Colchester away.

Vale have a shot well wide after a run by Pope.

The Vale natives are a moany bunch of twats, on the backs of several of their players already.

Great long cross from McCourt onto Twines head and its straight at the keeper.

Twine has got to be value for a goal today?

And again, Bayo wins a great ball and sets up Anderson who dribbles into the box and he shoots well wide again.

Twine looks well up for it today, I would love him to get his first league goal today.

If only our players could shoot at the goal ...

Knoyle great run and cross from the byeline and it glances off Twines head well wide.

Anderson wins Town a corner.

Town good value so far.

We would be 4 up already.

Taylor corner cant beat the first man again.

Town with some good attacking play and movemenet its just that final ball again.

Woolf gives away a free kick while clearing the box, 25 yards out on the angle.

Swindon Town (2015-present)

Easily charged down by Town, corner to Vale.

Tbf, our fans are guilty of that regularly as well..

Pope free header from the corner but its well wide luckily when it looked it was in.

letoff from Pope there

Iandolo to Anderson in the box, plays back to Twine and his 20 yard shot is weak.

Pox 2-0 down away at Bradford.

Iandolo has grown into his role today.

Vale offering very little in attack and defence today, its understandable their fans are moaning.

Town blocking everything coming into the box.

McCourt my man of the match so far, Twine doing well as is Anderson, Bayo and Knoyle.

Nobody playing badly but Alzate has not been anywhere near his best yet.

Town defending in numbers and doing it quite well. Playing some good football too.

1000% better than last week so far.

Fuck, me!  :D

Not a bad half that.  Played some good stuff and lot more crosses coming in today.  Still think the midfield looks weak defensively down the middle, but Vale haven't really been good enough to trouble us.  Much better from Iandolo and his crossing is a real threat, much more pace on the delivery.  Adebayo has even looked good and Twine is handful.  He must be our best forward at holding possession and gaining free kicks.

Totally different to lat weekend, hopefully the boss has learned quickly.

Good half. Could be 2 or 3 up if Anderson could shoot. McCourts best game in an stfc shirt.

Vale look like we do at home. Nervy, no real  attacking threat and the natives restless

Is Reg ok?

Let's keep it that way !.

I suppose when most of the attack are playing well, someone goes unnoticed. At least these should be the only issues we are looking at. I'd say Anderson, for all his huff and puff just is not a goalscorer - he's effectively an out and out winger (whatever that is in football today), he can turn himself into a great provider though. This could allow Alzate the space to shoot on site with Bayo/Twine tapping in the scraps.

Defence, as you say seems strong enough. I take it back - I thought this midfield would be shaky. This is great (if continued) as creates more competition. Great option in Doughty from the bench.

We say with caution though...this is STFC  ;)

Not being negative but I hope if we do concede that we carry on playing as we are, Vale look fairly poor so far.

2 subs on for Vale.

25 yarder just over the bar from them.

Shot by them blocked and goes just wide off Woolf.

Should have gone to specsavers

Knoyle down injured.

From the close up camera angle it looked in but was actually 2 yards wide.

Vale have upped their game so far this half, they had to TBH.

Anderson wide to McCourt and his cross almost goes in.

Parkin says Twine got a touch but I didn't see that.

Taylor again can't beat the first defender with his free kick.

Taylor looks like he may have used his hand in the box, shouts for a pen but I don't think it was hands.

Head tennis in our box finally cleared after 6 or more headers exchanged.

McCourt has taken a whack in the face well off the ball.

Looks to be an eye injury, could have to go off, he looks unsteady.

Big blow to Town with him going off, his best game in the league, only away at Plymouth was better.

Chance for Smith or Doughty to come on maybe.

McCourt going off not sure if its head or shoulder injury, he looks in pain.

McCourt shoulder popped out I think. gas and air and a lot of pain

Definate shoulder injury, Vale fans booing him and hes obviously in a lot of pain with oxygen.

Doughty coming on.

Real shame for McCourt who was having a good game.

Ball given to Twine 25 yards out awful defensive pass, Twine skies it over the scoreboard.

Town struggling a bit to get back into the game, Vale not creating much though.

A 2nd for us would be very welcome about now.

Game very scrappy this half.

Twine felled by Legge who has a go at him, 20 yards out in the corner of the box, free kick to Town.

Poor free kick from Taylor again.

Corner from Vale header off the line by Nelson saves us.

Vale making their last sub.

mcGlashen warming up

Great footwork by Twine sets up Anderson who miss hits straight at the keeper from 15 yards.

Game management needed now, for Town. :headhurts:

McGlashan on for Anderson.

mcGlashen on Anderson

Other than his finishing Anderson has had a good game today.

Great chance for Vale headed straight into Vigs arms from 6 yards.

4,387 crowd with 302 from Swindon.

Alzate wins a free kick near the corner.

Alzate to take it.

Comes off the defenders head for a Town corner, not a bad delivery.

Another poor corner delivery from Taylor who hits a cross 1 yard off the deck to the first defender.

The ref having quite a good game today with no bookings so far.

Booking for Bayo!

25 yards out and central hits the Town wall.

Great chance by Vale a good block by Nelson in the box.

10 mins added! FFS

Bayo who has had a good game all day until 5 mins ago is losing his head a bit.

10?? How come?

Vale players now losing their heads a bit and getting fiesty.

Lancashire coming on for Twine.

Bad injury to McCourt.

Alzate booked.

Good innings by Twine.

Sounds like we're walking on a tightrope with fouls?

We weren't until the 90th minute!

yeah, but the ref is a pussy..

McGlashan breaks with pace but loses the ball while passing to Doughty.

He is but he has had a fairly good game otherwise.

Vale players having a go at Bayo on the ground.

soapy tit wank. adebayo isn't making any friends :)

McGlashan gets a kick in the bollocks.

fantastic rolling around from mcGlashen .

Blow the fucking whistle.

Keeper coming up for the corner in the 100th min.

wiiiiiiiiiíiiiiiiiin

massive massive

wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin

Thank fuck for that.

That is a huge win after last week.

1st half we were good but didn't really look like conceding again a poor Vale side.

Phew! Well done Town, sounds like it was deserved.

Fantastic win after last week.

Onward's and upwards

 :D

Great win. Town deserved that. Players responded to the manager. Clean sheet, away win, 3pts. Just like that we're 14th.

Taylor as captain for me, should have been the choice at the start of the season. Onwards.

Good character shown to bounce back after last week's debacle.  Well done Swindon.

(https://i.postimg.cc/rp5TQyqK/Untitled.png)

If we can only beat a Port Vale team who stayed up by one point last season by 1 goal we’re definitely in a relegation battle.

Are you applying for a trolling position?

Stop it, you  :soapy tit wank:

Please don’t DV, it’s bad enough when Chang tries to out Reg, Reg  ;D

Handy that Morecambe got an 88 minute equaliser too. It feels good to stretch the gap to the bottom 2.

Get a couple more wins back to back and we'll be talking of the playoffs again :)

a good result and even more important with some of our play off rivals dropping points. a clean sheet and still without our big 3 players starting (and dunne!)

gained 2 points on mansfield, tranmere & exeter today and 3 points on newport. we're catching boys!

I hope Reg is ok after our win.

Quite solid defensively today, Nelson and Woolf played well, Knoyle great first half defended more 2nd half, Iandolo started slowly but was probably his best game for the Town in the end.

McCourt was excellent until his bad injury, Anderson played really well apart from his finishing, Alzate did some good tricks but not his best game, grew into the game but was nearly sent off at the end for kicking the ball away after being booked.

Doughty did what he does, played solidly when he came on and created a few chances.

Bayo had one of his better games today too and won a lot of balls and caused them problems as did Twine who also had his best game for us.

Taylor defended quite well but his free kicks and corners were really poor again.

McGlashan didn't do much when he came on and Lancashire made the number sup at the end at the back.

Vigs did everything that was needed, he even came out and claimed a few crosses rather than punching them.

Good solid performance, just what the doctor ordered after last week, all credit to them all and to Wellens.

It's OK, Cheltenham won and we have Stevenage on Tuesday who beat the leaders.

Reg's relegation charge is still very much on.

Yep, 8pts from 3rd. 9pts from the FL Black hole. Relegation battle?! Play-offs?! Fuck off, we're going for autos!  :pint:

That's a good win away, don't care about the score. 1-0 is 3 points and come May that could make the difference. Call it as it is we'll done Wellends, trained the team and they kept a clean sheet. What more could we ask for after last week. LP inspired appointment, he must be delighted.

we know that if we had lost/losing this thread would be on 20+ pages easy. certain posters have gone quiet. town have ruined their day

Town win, Shitty lose, Rovers lose and Pox lose....lovely.

Massive, especially as Numb won.... there's nothing wrong that a string of wins wouldn't put right, so that's 1.  Important though for Wellens as it does help erase the memory of last weeks debacle.... and as you say keeps that gap.

Now onto Tuesday... and a chance to sort the home form.... given that Stevenage beat Franchise today and are on the fringe of the PO looks a tough one.... further, we don't really do midweek games

I like that Wellens isn't happy despite winning.

Hahaha, Adebayo "did my head in last week"...Did well this he says.

He is going O'Leary .. young lads...

Richards - thigh injury.
McCourt - dislocated shoulder

I like how Wellens appears to be learning and getting to know his players strengths and weaknesses, quite quickly. Good signs behind the scenes.

Vale fans not happy about the way we played.

Be honest, he's stating the bloody obvious! Brown and Flitcroft talked sense too. If Wellens walks the walk then fair play.

If today proved one thing, it was that there are, indeed, worse sides than us in L2. No more talk of relegation, please.

We may be a bit mundane and capable of throwing in a truly dreadful performance, but honestly . . .

Are you going to make a prediction for Tuesday?
or say nothing decisive and disappear till someone says relegation three times again?

Flitcroft constantly talked bullshit and microwaves.

Wellens at least seems to have an understanding of wanting to develop youth, whilst recognising we need a blend of experience too. Surely he's learnt already from his squad getting beat 0 - 4, to see out a 0 - 1 win. He also admitted that he let others input too much when he got here, which is why he left Knoyle out. Then had Knoyle in a practise match situation and realised he'd got it wrong. As a rookie (ish) manager, he's clearly learning. That's good for us.

Who the fuck would advise him to leave Knoyle out? Probably our most consistent player.

He can bin that 3-5-2 hopefully.

Well in RW post match, he said as much. 'When I first came in, I let people cloud my ideas...I let too many have their input...' He then went on to talk about why he left Knoyle out because he didn't think he attacked enough (he wants attacking WBs). When they had the practise match, he realised he'd got it wrong. Thus Knoyle in this week.

We all know though that Knoyle has talent, reminds me of Nathan Byrne.

Those that wanted three at the back.

And to rub it in all three are lower than us in their relevant leagues ..... in fact all are closer to relegation point wise than we are - super weekend !!.

Excellent result... Well happy with that..

:nod:

Unfortunately until the home form is sorted we'll continue the need to look down rather than up..... that is Wellens' challenge

I predict you won't be there.....

Ha ha ha

Predict a result and I’ll go

ooooh. Go on reg, go on

Excellent win for Wellens, equivalent to the one Brown secured at Meadow Lane. We may overestimate the difference an alternative manager can make when the situation at a club remains the same. Do we know if Brown even had to be paid off by Power or is the Wellens appointment primarily a money saving exercise? Good luck to the new fella either way. Reckon we’ll stay up... as we probably would have done under Brown.

You do realise we are closer to the top three than we are the bottom two?

And before you respond about form - we are only a point worse off the third placed team over the past five games.

Good first half today. a bit less assured in the second, but that's probably got a lot to do with confidence.  What it did show today, to Audrey's point, is that when our players perform, they are better than a lot of players in this division.  The trick s far has been managing to get them on song together, which seems to be a lot do with constant changes in formation and players as far as I can see.  Hopefully the first half is what Wellens can keep them producing.

I predict this is where Reg bottles it. & ends his post with a  :hmmm:

Decent result, but Reg is right we do need to sort the home form out. If only to make it enjoyable to go and watch the team again.

Of course I do.... and today was important, had we slipped up and Notts held on for an extra 5 mins we'd have been 4 points off the drop zone. It's why having a bit of a buffer helps, you can afford a few slip-ups. Ideally we don't want to be flirting so intimately with the 23rd, 24th place.  With that in mind we've now 2 home games, where unless we get that improvement required since August, the buffer may well shrink again to uncomfortable proportions.

Sounds easy doesn't it Stevenage at home..... but the season has been dogged by injury and suspension so far and Tuesday will be no different.

There's always someone who puts a damper on it, isn't there ??.  For fucks sake we've won, make the most of it.     ;D  ;D ;D

A win on Tuesday would put us 4 points off the playoffs. Wellends is a tactical genius. There's enough of the season left for us to crash the promotion party. Just that little challenge of back to back wins.

Att: 3,877 with 302 travelling

Not necessarily true. Other teams are playing as well.

I’m relying on us to finish as least 4th - fat chance. I’ve got an accy with Middlesbrough, Luton and Swindon to finish 4th or better for nearly £5000.

Luton will let you down !.

Please go out more often.

Just got in.

I fucking told you. If it goes down the the wire either way then you cunts should be thinking about a gofundme page to make sure that  I have sufficient funds to go out on the razz.

How well did we play?

I know we won, but how well did we play?

Depends who you’re asking. If it’s all but Smeeton, we fucking won just take it. If it’s Smeeton, how much of your life have you got to waste?

Played it around well first half and but for Anderson’s wayward shooting would and should have gone in 3 up at half time.

Second half was a bit of a dirge with Vale fans bemoaning our play acting, timewasting and generally caddish behaviour.

Fuck ‘em!

quite well in the first half, McCourt played well for the first time. back 4. Taylor holding in mid. iandolo was ok in my book. Twine did well given total lack of experience. Restricted Vale to 1 serious shot I think and could have had 3 ourselves.

second half value 3 upped it a bit, they had to. quite direct but also tried to use pace down the wing.  we were quite dogged in defence. there were a couple of scares, one off the line but we held on and killed the game at every opportunity.

not a classic, but 3 points are 3 points.

Downside: Richards injured in warm up. adebayo suspended for Tuesday (5th yellow) and McCourt dislocated his shoulder.

now we have to turn you into a Saturday night binge drinker.

Forget our victory in Burslem, the biggest result today was at Morecambe - that late equaliser could well be the difference between survival and loss of FL status come the end of the season. Massive.

You said he lost the dressing room last week you wank sponge!

Sitting as devils advocate. Do you know that he didn’t?

Enjoyed that yesterday and pleased for Wellens. Good solid team performance.

Just a mention on Woolfenden who I thought had his best game for us so far and did well against Pope.

Good to see a set of opposition fans with a bad case of boooitis and for us to be in a position to do a bit of niggly time wasting for a change.

Anderson looked to be struggling when he came off, but hopefully ok for Tuesday.

Spotted Doughty at Stoke station heading for the first class carriages of the 17:50 to Euston.
Maybe didn't want to mingle with the QPR massive and who can blame him.

I would imagine that had he lost the dressing room we wouldn’t have put in what sounded like a tremendous, determined gritty performance for 100 minutes yesterday.

Interesting that a few players had their best game for us yesterday - Wolf, Iandolo, McCourt, Twine

Get Dave and Woolery up to speed and things may look a bit brighter.

I would add Bayo to that too, for 85 mins he ran them ragged winning loads of balls played up to him, he is so hit and miss, one week looks a promising star of the future the next he looks like he has never seen a football in his life.

Our opponents on Tuesday, Stevenage, (who had a good win yesterday vs MKD) have cancelled the supporters club coach for Tuesdays game as they only sold 3....yes 3 tickets!

And now suspended for Tuesday.... exactly what we didn't need, as we've only one option up front, young Twine, who isn't a target man. 

Throw in another glut of injuries and it's difficult to see how Wellens can put together a side likely to get the win we badly need.

Jesus. I remember Macclesfield bringing 38 down for a Saturday league game years ago. Looks as if they’ll be in that sort of territory in the week.

How did Taylor do as the holding CM yesterday? I think Wellens is probably right to play Iandolo at left back if it allows the back four to play with a higher line.

Back in 85 Hartlepool brought 3 away fans for a midday kick off on a Sunday.

I thought he was a bit of a passenger.  A better team would have exploited him.  For me he just drops back too deep to do much by way of protecting the back four.  As it was he was given an easier ride so did ok.  Plus MCourt had a good game.  It's clear he is being used for that blend of experience and dead balls.  The latter were poor yesterday though.  The former is tough to know as a fan, we cant really see the impact until they are missing I guess.

Someone ran past him yesterday and he couldn't even keep up sufficiently to foul them properly.  To be fair to him MCourt had the same thing happen and his attempt was so blatant the ref had a word even though he had failed to lay a finger on the player.

Overall the jury would still be out if yesterday was his only game there, but he has had other opportunities and the problems outweigh the benefits.  Iandolo did well but I think he is a bigger risk than Taylor against a better team.  I suppose much will rely on having the midfielders available.

I agree with what Rob says totally. He looked ok but not very good in the role.

If he is in just because of his dead ball delivery then he can't justify his place as yesterday every one was a really poor delivery from corners and free kicks, so much so that Alzate took most later on in the game.

Taylor was fine yesterday. He could score a hat-trick at the Kassam and I expect Rob would still savage him on here after.

Great result.  Really pleased for Wellens.

Presumably the people who wanted him sacked after last Saturday are now hailing him as our most successful (50% win rate) ever manager.  :)

Flitcroft, Ling, Sturrock, Wise and PdC have all 50% or higher ;)

I would add that if he knew a booking would lead to a suspension,  why keep fouling after the ref gave him ample warnings? He had a good game,  but that was stupid.

Thanks.

I agree, there was no need at all for his booking or the numerous fouls he gave away late on, I think you have to put it down to his inexperience, it was very stupid of him.

That’s a shame, I was considering catching it!

Sometimes those 5th bookings are deliberate because the player doesn’t fancy / has been told to sit out a Tuesday game, and that could be the case here I suppose.

But, although he’s nothing special, with the lack of presence up front there isn’t a good time to lose him at the moment.

That would explain the constant niggling fouls.

Maybe there is an arguement for a win ratio to be split three ways.

1) full season
2) half season
3) part season as in under a half season.

Assuming we keep the same back 4 for Tuesday, then a midfield of Taylor, Smith, Doughty, Alzate.... we're left with a front 2 of Twine and presumably McGlashan. Someone mentioned Anderson injured.  McG does have a bit of pace.  I suppose the long forgotten Young might come into consideration, but no idea where he's at these days.

iv a feeling richards will recover. no idea on the radio silence over woolery- what is even wrong with him?

And Bodin....

Probably got Cobblers' coaching on a Tuesday night...

I think we might see Doughty start up there on Tuesday. You could be right about Richards, though I’d really rather see him replace Doughty on the hour. I think his days of starting games are behind him.

I haven’t a clue with Woolery. I think we just need to view any availability as a bonus from now.

Hitchin a ride?

He was on the bench on Saturday after Richards' late withdrawal

I asked on Twitter re Woolery, nobody seems to know what's up

I heard he’s doing rehab with Milan Misun

Yes, hence why he must come into consideration.... has spent the most part injured over recent seasons, so no idea if he's anywhere near the required standard now. 

He will be on the bench again then...threadbare!

Alternatively a Luton would do.

You're off the wagon with that one mate!

We're very actively looking for a striker in January.

Macauley Bonne would be my shout, but maybe a bit too optimistic.

Yeah I think Bonne will be out of our price range and why would he swap Orient getting promoted for Swindon getting relegated #Regmode ;)

I would like to think that Hunt ( and Power) has a good knowledge of the Irish league and a few gems over there that could be worth taking a punt on in January.

Whats Nicky Ajose up to these days?

If we do acquire a new striker, it will be someone surplus to requirements or another loan kid, or Hunt may have dusted down the boots.

nothing wrong with a punt.

But I'll reserve my view of whether January is the right time to take a punt until I know which way the team are headed.

But we all know proven strikers in January don't grow on trees. They're deciferous.

All I know is it's top of Ben Chorley's to do list, and he's watching a lot of games at the moment, primarily looking for a ST.

He has started 8 games for them scoring 2 and getting 4 assists so far this season for Charlton.

I think its pretty obvious to everyone that has seen us regularly that we need a striker and a LB/LWB/LW too.

Otherwise we are probably about there for personel.

I have a feeling McGlashan if hes not started could be a leaver in the squad for any new signing if we are floating close to the FFP limits.

Used to be the Irish currency....

Surely Smith and/or another midfielder would be gone. Maybe even Dave as a big wage earner. McGlashen has been poor, but he's our only winger.

How the hell can we be near FFP limits, if many are to be believed we are paying players much less than other clubs plus we have not spent a penny - again apparently, it just doesn't add up....

because they're all boycotting ain't they, so our revenue is well  down. silly.

Everybody knows we have the lowest budget in the league. We might at least be able to compete in non-league next season, though. #reg #changcrapgreg

The normal Power strategy for Jan is more or less one out, one in. last season saw Brophy, Goddard, Vigs and H Smith leave to be replaced by Moore, Mayo, Banks and Richards.  Of course it helps if someone wants to take a player off your hands if you want to get one in.... or you just return a loanee and get in another one.  I'd imagine theere's a fair chance that Nelson, Woolfenden and Bayo might go back

Nelson is only here till January but Bayo and Woolf are here for the season, I hope we gets Nelson in for the rest of the season.

The only one who may return is Bayo and Power has already said he tried to sign him full time earlier in the season, if he continues to play as he did for the first 80 mins on Saturday then its a no brainer, but if we get him he could play as he did vs Carlisle last week making it a no goer.

I doubt Woolf will go back as hes been pretty integral to the side in recent weeks.

I like Nelson, but I can see him going out to be replaced by an older head. Wellens keeps saying he wants more experience and has mentioned a lack of experience in defence specifically.

Are they? I am aware of  a number who made a song and dance about boycotting but are going anyway, are gates actually down on last yea?

6,380 last season average, this season its been 6,297.

Actually after the first 7 home league games last season our average was 6,313 so our average has actually gone up.

it was meant tongue in cheek

So was my response  ;)

Ipswich in deep shite.... new gaffer, may think he wants as many bodies as what he can get... like Hollowhead  a few seasons back.

BTW, those hoping for some sort of bounce when the window opens are probably wildly misguided.  The evidence from Power's window work, is that we tend to get worse.

Ok it's not a perfect correlation as Jan 1st doesn't coincide with 23 games, usually 24 or 25, but more or less half way through the season.

So for season 13/14,  37 points gained in 24, 29 from the next 22.  14/15, 48 from the first 24, 31 from next 22. 15/16 31 from first 25,  28 from next 21. 16/17, 25 from first 25, 19 from next 21. 17/18, 41 from first 25, 27 from next 21.

15/16 was the only seaon where the points gained ratio was better in the second part than first, 1.24 under Ling/Cooper compared to 1.33 under Luke, not a massive improvement, but interestingly, he used to say he didn't want to do much in the window, preferring to work with a small squad.

It will be important to pick up as many points as poss before Jan, to compensate for the usual fall off after the window. I would say we'll need about 7 points from the next 5 games to reach the window, with some sort of buffer.

Always positive...

Personally I think Sid will be taken permanently in Jan. He'll be 23 by the time the window opens, there seems to be no future for him at Millwall and I think he'd want to sign. The Cambridge game, which he missed, was a shambles. In my view he's as important as anyone at the moment.

I had a look at their forum when he signed and a lot of Millwall fans seem to think this is his last chance to prove himself. Even though they like him.

I would love for Sid to sign for us, he is the no nonsense defender we have been looking for, for years, he gets any part of his body between the ball and the goal and no injury will stop him playing.

I think him and Woolf make a decent pairing at the back, more solid than any other of the options we have currently anyway.

Out of contract in the summer too I think. Millwall fans love him but accept he's not a Championship defender. Would be a great permanent signing.

LB, striker, wide attacker for me, although Iandolo has a decent chance to stake a claim now and I'd like us to stick with him in the short term.

Also think Keshi is going to come good, does everything but score - him or Twine for the 10 behind a decent ST has potential.

Genuinely looking forward to tomorrow night to see us set up at home and play a bit of football.

Doh!

Yes, Conroy is in no state to be playing first team football in my opinion, we all know Lancashire's limitations and I assume that Robertson will be paid off soon - why the fuck that smarmy twat Flitcroft gave a 30-something lower league journeyman 2 years we will never know. Woolfenden needed a run in the team and, now that he's getting it, he's doing alright. I'm glad that he's in for the season.

I think playing at right back versus Crewe destroyed his confidence for a while, he got rinsed and shouldn't play out there again.

I agree.

Got to be looking at 2 strikers, depending what happens to Adebayo maybe 3, we cant rely on Twine or Richards so need cover

Woolery could still play a big part in it if he can get fit and stay fit.

Yes, if we can pick up those 7 points from the next 5, then 31 points from 24, means we could be Luke season bad and still end up on 50 which is usually fine for Div 4.

Considering we've had 6 from the last 5, and been largely garbage, it is doable, but will require the home form to improve, especially as there's a trip to Whaddon Road bunged in, and Numb are coming into form.

3 points out of 6 is a record over 2 games blah blah blah

We're not going down Reg. Give it up!

Exactly what a Millwall season ticket holder said to me,  they love him at Millwall but there are others in front of him, so chances of him getting a game are fairly slim.   They can't see him returning,  hope they're right,  could see him fitting in here well on a permanent contract. Probably the closest we've had to a Shaun Taylor for years.

:nod: since ST himself I think, gives 100% for 100% of the time.

For fucks sake Reg, can't you ever see light at the end of the tunnel ?.

Being involved in a relegation battle and going down aren't necessarily the  same thing... you can survive that battle. On Sat had we lost and Notts held on to win we'd have been 4 points off the drop zone. Happily it didn't pan out that way, but we've now got 2 difficult looking home games.... on the back of our worst ever run in Div 4.  That is the challenge now for Wellens..... find a way at the CG.

We're still mid table. Dress it up how you like.

Unlike Notts County who are only being kept off bottom place by an inept Macclesfield despite County having 38 professionals on their books and a season budget of £3m according to their owner.

Then again with Paul Hart as technical director I expect nothing less, his remit is "being responsible for "setting the club's overall footballing philosophy with a keen emphasis on our development and academy set-ups."

It was Power with a torch!

I think Keshi will have a game at some point, out of nowhere, which he wins on his own with a 10 out of 10 performance. Trouble is I’ve been saying that for months, and he’s generally a bit of a nearly man. He’ll do all the hard work, then balls up the key pass or shot. He does need to step up, soon. But the potential is still there.

Advice to everyone re:all the usual attention seeking posts, just click ignore next to his name next time you’re logged in. The only annoyance is that you still see what gets quoted back by others, but I’ve enjoyed the forum much more since I did so.

Yeah, there’s definite scope for him to become a big fans’ favourite. If he gives us a couple of years, he could well captain a promotion winning side and do his own career a lot of favours.

Being a centre back there’s plenty of time for him to get back to Championship level. If we can’t get that far within his time, he could feasibly go elsewhere and match the achievements of someone like Flint.

Notts are in deep shit.... along with Bristol, Nottingham is a place where 2 clubs in the city isn't perhaps justified. Rovers recently went to the Conference, and it wouldn't be altogether surprising to see County drop.

According to Hunt.... Anderson looks the best bet for recovery as they looked after him. They've looked at playing a false 9 system in training, so the lad Sol Pryce is getting mentioned. Don't know owt about him. Hunt himself is ruled out having played for Wigan and Waterford apparently.... prob a UEFA rule.

Players are not allowed to have played for more than 2 teams in a single season.

Hunt left Wigan in May 2018 and then played for Waterford so its not that rule.

Could be more to him not leaving Waterford before then end of the last transfer window also needing international clearance for any playing move.

Well at least we know, whatever the reason, and tbf it isn't very clear from the Adver piece. 

We are certainly going to be pretty light up front for tomorrow thats for certain.

Sometimes a rag bag side can surprise everyone.... such a thing happened a couple of years back v Rochdale on a Tuesday night. We beat them 3-0, with a side that had Conor Thomas at the back..... Anton and Tom Smith holding in midfield and Jonny Goddard, Sean Murray and Ellis Iandolo, flitting about behind Delfouneso, who scored his only goal in that game.

There were fellas wondering about in the pub afterwards in a daze, scarcely believing what they'd seen.

I know it's a cheap comment, but it's not going to affect us that much is it.

Hunt suggesting we might play without a recognised striker... or with Sol Pryce up front.

If we continue to play long balls to a target man then it could do, if we change it to play on the ground then not as much.

IIRC Pryce is pretty quick but not a big lad, only around 5 foot 7 I think so it won't be like for like if he does play.

I think Twine could be the right player to move up top.  He has a real knack of being a nuisance to a defender, and while he is not the typical target man we might be looking for, I certainly think he could do a job in the central role.  He does pretty well at retaining possession, with a real Nathan Thompson ability to draw contact.  You maybe lose a bit of his forward facing ability, but it's easier to replace that from midfielders such as Alzate, Anderson, Doughty and, hoping beyond hope, McGlashan.

You keep as much as you can the same, so possibly Doughty for Adebayo if Anderson is ok, move Twine up top and one of Doughty or Alzate further upfield (assuming Smith is available to replace McCourt).  It's pretty clear I don;t fancy Taylor these days, but you'd resists making too many changes again, so keep him where he is for now.

I think sometimes the change of focus can work, simply because the other lot don't know what they're up against.  Another unlikely win which sticks in the mind was beating Blackburn in 99.  They'd just come down from the Prem, and still had a large squad of international players... we had James Williams, the other Andy Williams and Fraser McHugh.

FMc took the simple course of punting it into the channels for George Ndah to chase.... it worked a treat.

I think we could put Gordon Greer up as close to an old fashioned hard working CB. I liked Greer. Not as good as ST obviously. Could also put Flint up there - despite where he moved to. His career has progressed and he's probably got his sights set on a move to the Prem (nearly with BCFC, could go close with Middlesbrough). Best check in with Exiled Bob first though, just to confirm my neurological receptors. He has my file.

I still think Alzate could work up front. He's got a good shot on him from range (when he shoots) but I think if he was released into the box more he'd have an eye for goal.

Proviso - I'm not a football manager. We'll see.

Don't tell me......you played against Greer at infants school and Taylor was running the line.
 :girlgiggle:

Fuck, you're good! How could ever know?! Except it was at Junior School though  :soapy tit wank: